Date: 2020-01-31

The Kwara state government says its plans to reconstruct 31 dilapidated schools across the state. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq made this known in Ilorin at the flag-off of distribution of exercise books to public schools in the state on Thursday.

The governor said over 100 public schools across the state were in dire need of reconstruction, adding that government is starting with 31 schools for now. "Like they say, the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, so we are starting the first step with 31 schools.

All our major schools are in deplorable condition which is nothing to write home about," he added. He commended teachers in the state for their commitment to work in spite of the deplorable conditions of schools and promised to look into the requests of teachers in the state, but that government cannot respond to all the requests in one day.

"We thank you for staying on the job and doing your best for the students, for the students, we wish that you have met a better system, something to build on, "From 2013, nothing much has been done, you only need to go to our schools; basic things like walls, water and sanitation are not there.

"The number of students per classroom, some classrooms in Ilorin that I went to had about 100 students in a class, how can students learn in that condition? Read

For the students to pick up, they have to cheat, that is why we have the WAEC issue which we are putting behind us very quickly," he added. Gov. AbdulRazaq said the state would organise a robust education summit to refocus and have direction on the best way to move forward.